The U.S. EPA has posted call-in information for the June 9 hearing on its recently proposed rule to set 2017 renewable fuel standard (RFS) volume obligations. The hearing will be held in Kansas City, Missouri, and is scheduled to begin at 9:00 a.m. CDT.

According to the EPA, the conference line for the public hearing will be in listen-only mode. Call-in information, including a toll-free number and participant code, is available on the EPA website.  

The EPA released its proposed rule to set 2017 renewable volume obligations (RVOs) under the RFS, along with the 2018 RVO for biomass-based diesel, on May 18. The agency has proposed to set the 2017 RVO for cellulosic biofuel at 312 million gallons, with the advanced biofuel RVO at 4 billion gallons and the RVO for total renewable fuel at 18.8 billion gallons. The 2018 RVO for biomass-based diesel has been proposed at 2.1 billion gallons. 

The public hearing, announced in late May, will provide interested parties the opportunity to present data, views, or arguments concerning its RFS proposal. While the EPA may ask clarifying questions during the hearing, the agency will not respond to presentations at that time. 

Parties who wish to testify during the hearing were required to register by May 31. Members of the public who wish to weigh in on the proposal are also able to submit written comments through July 11. According to the EPA, written statements and supporting information submitted during the public comment period will be considered with the same weight as any oral comments and supporting information presented at the public hearing. Comments can be submitted online on Regulations.gov under Dock ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2016- 0004.  A full copy of the proposed rulemaking and directions on how to submit comments are available on the Federal Register website.